ANTARA, 06/30/07 00:35
Legislator: Ambon incident really embarasses head of state
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - It was natural if President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was
highly resented and angry over the Ambon incident which has belittled the position of
the head of state, a legislator said.
Chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) House faction Tjahjo
Kumolo said here on Friday that the incident was a serious problem, not only a
carelessness. Stern actions should be immediately taken against the chief of the
presidential security task force, provincial police head and regional military
commander overseeing Maluku.
The Ambon incident broke out when the president was attending a ceremony to mark
the 14th National Family Day at the Ambon Merdeka Square. But suddenly and
unexpectedly, a group of 'Cakalele' dancers showed up to perform a traditional dance
with swords and shields.
They danced in front of the head of state and then unfurled banners saying "RMS"
(South Maluku Republic).
"This showed the security and intelligence officials didn't work in Ambon and are
oblivious at all. The selection was never done at the begining before the show was
performed," he said.
In the meantime, Regional Representatives Council (DPD) Vice Chairman Irman
Gusman said security agencies were lax in ensuring the security of President Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono's visit in Ambon, Maluku, and that's why a disturbing incident
could happen during the National Family Day (Harganas) observance in the city.
"It happened because of the security agencies' laxity," Irman Gusman said in his
comment on a disturbance which occurred earlier in the day when the president was
attending ceremonies to mark the 14th National Family Day in Ambon's Merdeka
Square.
He said the DPD deplored the incident during Yudhoyono's visit to Ambon, and urged
security officials to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
"We are going to ask DPD members from Maluku province to pay serious attention to
the case," Irman Gusman said.
The highlight of the National Family Day celebration which was attended by President
Yudhoyono was disrupted by a group of irresponsible persons who performed an
unscheduled "Cakalele" dance.
It was reported from Ambon that the incident happened at 10.30 a.m local time, after
Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu had delivered a speech at the event at
Merdeka Square.
About 30 people clad in Maluku traditional costume, suddenly appeared from
nowwhere in front of the audience and performed a cakalele dance although the show
was not part of the program made by the event's organizers.
Startled by the "illegal" activity, President Yudhoyono said that if it had been staged
with certain purposes, social and moral sanctions should be imposed against the
perfomers and the organizers.
"If the dancers had certain purposes, there should be resolute action against them,"
the President said, adding that he was informed earlier about possible illegal activity
outside the agenda of the Harganas committee. (*)
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